Washboard



No. 608,289. -Patentead Aug. 2, |898.

A. s. unison.v WASHBARD.

(Appumm med sept. 17, 1897.)

(IU'Modek) ma aways versus co. maraumo., wAsmNcTuN. n. c,

. top of the same by hinges 2.

UNITED v STATEs ABSALOM S. IRESON,

VPATENT OFFICE.

OF KELLY, VIRGINIA.

wAsHBoARD.

SPECIFICATION forming peet ef Lettere Patent Ne. 608,289, dated August2, 1898. Appueetiee nea september 17, 1897. serai No. 652,016. e ovemodel.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABsALoM S. IREsoN, a citizen of the United States,resid-'ing at Kelly, in the county of Tazewell and State of Virginia,have invented a new and useful Washboard, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to Vimprovements in washboards.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofwashboards and to provide a simple, strong, and durable one in which therubbing-surface can be readily changed to bring the end portions at thecenter, and vice versa, so that when the central portion, which issubjected to the greatest wear, becomes worn it may be renewed by simplyrearranging the parts.

A further object of the invention is to enable the washboard after useto be'rapidly and thoroughly dried to prevent it from rotting. v

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, vand pointed out in the claims hereto appended;

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a washboardconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view. Figs. 3 and 4e are transverse sectional views on thelines 3 3 and 4e 4e of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view,theclamping-frames being swung apart.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all theiigures of the drawings.

1 1 designate similar substantially rectangular clamping-frames formingthe front and back of the washboard and connected atthe y Each frame 1is composed of a top cross-piece 3 and side bars 4, andthe latter arerecessed longitudinally at their inner adjacent edges to receive theends of transverse bars `or slats 5', which form the rubbingsurface ofthe washboard. The transverse bars or slats are square in cross-sectionand exposed atthe front and back of the frame to form'a double wash'-board.

The rubbing surface, which may be constructed of any suitable material,is preferably composedof Woodenbarsorslats 5,Whicl1 are supported at therecesses 6 of the side bars of the frame by longitudinal plates 7secured to the inner faces of the bars 4e and having projecting edgesarranged at the recesses 6 and provided with V- shaped notches toreceive the opposite corners oredges of the transverse bars or slats 5.These plates firmly hold the bars or slats 5 at the proper/interval, anda sufficient space is provided between the slats 0r bars toA permit thedirty Water expelled from the clothes to pass directly through theboard. Should the transverse bars 5 be constructed of metal, their edgesshould be slightly rounded to avoid cutting the fabrics.

connected and held in engagement with the bars 5 by hooks 8, mounted onone of the 'frames and engaging lugs or projections 9 at the other, butany suitable fastening devices may be employed for this purpose.

The sides of the clamping-frames are prevented froin spreading by alower transverse rod 10, preferably constructed of galvanized metal toavoid rusting and having reduced ends 11 passing through openings formedby notches in the side bars of the frames.. The reduced ends 11 formshoulders at their inner terminals and have their outer portions andinner and outer plates 13 14e are arranged on the ends 11 and engage theinner and outer faces of the sides of the frames. The nuts enable thesides of the frames to be forced inward, and the inner .plates preventthem from being forced too far in that direction. The outer plates alsoprevent the sides of the `clamping-frames from spreading and releasingthe ends of the transverse bars or slats 5.

The sides of the clamping-frames are provided at their inner faces withshallow longitudinal recesses 16, which form drain-openings at the sidesof the washboard.

Soap-receptacles are provided at the front and back of the doublewashboard and are formed by a board or partition 17, disposed in thesame plane as the washboard, and a transverse board 1S, arranged at thebottom of the board 17. These boards are clamped in position between theframes 1 at the top thereof in suitable cut-out portions or re- CBSSGS.

The side bars et of the clamping-frames are Y* threaded for thereception of thumb-nuts 12, e

IOO

The invention has the following advantages:

\Vhen the central portion of the rubbingsurface, which is subjected tothe greatest wear, becomes worn, the central transverse bars or slatsmay readily be changed and arranged at the top and bottom of therubbingsurface and the unworn end slats or bars placed at the center.This practically renews both rubbing-surfaces, and after these becomeworn the entire series of slats or bars are adapted to be turned tobring their unused upper and lower edges in position to formrubbing-surfaces. These when worn at the center can be changed,as aboveexplained, and by this construction the washboard is provided withsubstantially eight rubbingsurtaces which are adapted to be successivelyused. then the transverse bars or slats become worn out entirely, newones may be supplied.

The rubbing-surface when constructed of wood will yield slightly to thehand of the operator, rendering the operation of washing more easy thanon a perfectly rigid board. After the operation of washing is completedthe clamping frames, which compose the frame of the washboard, areadapted to be opened for exposing the interior of the board, so that theparts will rapidlyand thoroughly dry, and thereby prevent rot andincrease the durability of the device.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction maybe resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A washboard comprising two clampingl'rames hinged together at one endol' the washboard and provided at the inner longitudinal edges of theirsides with recesses, the separable plates secured to the inner faces ofthe sides of the clamping-frames, projecting over the said recesses andprovided at their inner opposite edges with angular notches, said platesbeing adapted to swing apart with the clamping-frames, the removable andreversible transverse bars or slats arranged in said notches and clampedby the plates, and means for holding the free ends of the framestogether, substantially as described.

2. A washboard comprising two clampingframes hinged together at the topof the board,and provided at the inner edges of their sides withnotches, means for holding the free ends of the frames together,thereversible and removable transverse bars or slats arranged in saidnotches forming rubbing-surfaees, a transverse rod extending across thewashboard and having its terminals arranged between the sides of theclamping-frames, inner and outer plates mounted on the ends of the rod,and nuts on the end of the rod engaging the outer plates and adapted totorce the sides et the frames inward, substantially as described.

A washboard comprising two clampingframes hinged together at the top andprovided at their sides with longitudinal recesses and having recesses16 forming side openings, means for holding the free ends of the framestogether, notched plates secured to the inner faces of the sides of theclamping-trames, transverse bars or slats forming rubbing-surfacesclamped in the notches et the plates, means for connecting the frames,the boald or partition 17 arranged between the upper portions of theclamping frames and the transverse board 1S detachably secured betweenthe clamping-frames at the bottom ot the board 17 and combining with thelatter to form opposite soap-recel'itacles, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto al'lixedmy signature in the presence oli' two witnesses.

ABSALOM S. IHESON. lVitnesses:

Guo. C. lnncv, lt. M. '.l. Uranium'.

